Ex-Police officer on rape trial

The trial of a 41-year-old former Police officer charged with rape will start on Monday.

The case was called before Judge Justice Vincent Perera at the High Court in Suva yesterday.

Michael Shalendra Pratap is alleged to have raped a 16-year-old girl in Suva last year.

Pratap had pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape.

The alleged incident happened on January 22, 2016.

The state prosecution would be producing 13 witnesses during the trial, while defence lawyer, Mohammed Yunus, confirmed that they have eight witnesses.

The case was adjourned to January 23, for trial.

JESSICA GOUNDER

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

10 months added to convict’s sentence

A 24-year-old serving prisoner was further sentenced to 10 months imprisonment for being in possession of marijuana.

The court heard that on September 1, 2015, at the Suva Remand Centre, Nishal Rohit Roy was found in possession of 1.4 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana).

At the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday, Magistrate Jioji Boseiwaqa said: “This sentence is consecutive to any present sentence that he is serving and the court orders that any drugs still in Police custody are to be photographed and destroyed within 30 days.”

Roy had pleaded guilty to the charges.

The court heard that he was searched by a Corrections officer at the Suva Remand Centre, and three sachets of dried leaves were found on him.

The matter was then reported at the Police station.

For mitigating factors, the court considered his early guilty plea and a statement that he was sorry for his actions.

JESSICA GOUNDER

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

Plea date set for Nisha

The former secretary for the Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) charged with corruption-related offences will be taking her plea on March 3.

Afrana Rahiman Nisha appeared before Magistrate Makereta Mua at the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday.

Magistrate Mua consolidated the charges of the two files against Nisha.

Nisha is charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with six counts of falsification of documents and two counts of obtaining a financial advantage.

It is alleged that between July 1, 2012, and August 2, 2012, Nisha falsified cheques amounting to $3450 by forging the signature of the Solicitor-General of Fiji, Sharvada Sharma.

It is also alleged that between June 1, 2014, and September 30, 2014, Nisha falsified five cheques amounting to $10,149.10 by forging the signature of Mr Sharma.

The case was adjourned to March 3 for plea.

JESSICA GOUNDER

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

Driver to be questioned soon: Police

A 50-year-old Labasa driver will be questioned soon in relation to the fatal road accident that killed one in Bua.

The accident happened along the Dreketi-Nabouwalu highway on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro confirmed that an investigation into the case was continuing.

“We are gathering all the necessary statements and reports before we can bring the driver in for questioning,” Ms Naisoro said.

“It has been alleged that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and hitting the bus bound for Labasa.”

“The 32-year-old victim who was the passenger in the carrier died in this accident.

“It has been confirmed that the accident occurred after 5am in Dama,” Ms Naisoro said.

The driver has been discharged from the Nabouwalu Subdivisional Hospital.

The victim, Ronald Chand, originally of Lautoka is survived by his wife.

The driver and the victim were on their way to the Nabouwalu Jetty to board the boat bound for Lautoka when the accident happened.

SHRATIKA NAIDU

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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